telemedicine

American  

[tel-uh-med-uh-sin, -med-sin] / ˈtɛl əˌmɛd ə sɪn, -ˌmɛd sɪn /

noun

1. the part of the telehealth system that uses internet and telecommunications technology, as video calls, to provide clinical services, as medical consultation, evaluation, and diagnosis, either in real time when the patient and the medical professional are in different locations or facilitated by remote monitoring and record sharing among healthcare providers.

   Rural patients may find that the only way for them to see a specialist is via telemedicine.

2. (loosely) telehealth.

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telemedicine British  

/ ˈtɛlɪˌmɛdɪsɪn, -ˌmɛdsɪn /

noun

1. the treatment of disease or injury by consultation with a specialist in a distant place, esp by means of a computer or satellite link

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Etymology

Origin of telemedicine

First recorded in 1965–70; tele- ¹ + medicine

Example Sentences

The staffers were also early adopters of telemedicine; the deadly nature of the Ebola virus required intense sterilization of anything that came into contact with a patient.

From Slate • May 14, 2026

"For countless people, especially those who live in rural areas, face intimate partner violence, or live with disabilities, losing a telemedicine option will mean losing access to this vital medication altogether," she added.

From BBC • May 1, 2026

Jaime Garcia injects five different peptides into her body that she gets from a doctor and a telemedicine company.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

"The moratorium applies to everything that is digital. It goes far beyond digital books and music. It also includes, for example, security updates, online courses, telemedicine," she added.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

“Without congressional action to reinstate telemedicine flexibilities, both beneficiaries and providers will continue to face disruptions in access to care, loss of critical services and wasted investments in telehealth infrastructure.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 24, 2026